Former mayors, veteran corporators face new challenges as key wards are reserved for women, OBC, and ST candidates
PANAJI
The recent delimitation of 30 wards, coupled with reservations for women, OBC, and ST communities, has upended the strategies of several stalwarts in Panaji’s civic politics. Long-time corporators and former mayors now find themselves locked out of their traditional bastions.
Seven-time corporator and ex-mayor Surendra Furtado faces a major setback in Miramar. Of the four wards in his home turf, two are reserved. Ward VI, which he currently represents, is now earmarked for an OBC candidate. Ward VIII, held by his ally Joel Andrade, is reserved for OBC (Women), ruling out his wife Ruth Furtado. Ward IX, earlier reserved for women and won by Ruth in 2021, has reverted to general and remains the only option for the Furtados.
Nelson Cabral, another veteran and rival of Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate, is similarly sidelined. His Dona Paula ward is now reserved for ST candidates. The neighbouring Caranzalem wards II and III are reserved for OBC (Women), leaving him no room to contest. Ward III, currently represented by Mayor Rohit Monserrate, also falls under reservation, forcing the mayor to consider shifting to Ward IV or V.
Former mayor Uday Madkaikar finds his Chicolnem ward reserved for OBC candidates. After a fallout with Monserrate over the mayor’s post, Madkaikar has recently reconciled and is reportedly negotiating a slot for his son in Monserrate’s panel.
Elsewhere, two-term corporator Lorraine Dias has seen her Ward XXVII splintered and reserved for OBC candidates. Former mayor Vithal Chopdekar is tipped to contest from there on the Monserrate-backed panel.
These changes have thrown the Opposition camp — comprising the Furtados, Utpal Parrikar, and Dattaprasad Naik — into disarray. Sources said they are redrawing strategies and candidate lists to adapt to the new matrix.
Menino da Cruz, a multiple term councillor from the Bhatulem area around the Portais chapel and another of Monserrate’s rival in CCP politics, had approached the courts in a bid to ensure that the delimitation process remains neutral.
Da Cruz did not succeed in the High Court to overturn the amendment in the CCP Act which substituted the SEC with the DMA for the conduct of the delimitation exercise. He then knocked the doors of the Supreme Court of India but has been unable to obtain a favourable outcome.
For nearly two decades ever since the first election to the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) was held in 2006, many political foes of Monserrate, have held strong suspicions over the neutrality of officials conducting the processes of delimitation and fixing the reservation matrix of the civic body’s 30 wards. This time it is no different as well.
